Editor,

Thank you for your incisive reporting on the diminishing ferry service. I just sent a message to WSDOT this morning that I request you publish as a letter in the SW Record, “To the WSDOT: I receive your (routine service outage) emails, and today you said “An additional boat will be added to Mukilteo/Clinton route to supplement service for today, Oct. 24. The Kitsap will run in the number 2 position starting with the 8:00 a.m. sailing from Clinton to Mukilteo. The boat will remain in service until 2:35 p.m. from Mukilteo to Clinton.”

The words “supplement service” give me grave concern; you are implying that the normal is one boat service and that you are adding service. Nothing could be further from the truth, and your words should be “restore service.” It may seem like a trivial comment, but it reflects a mind set that is contrary to what the ferry is all about for those of us who depend on it; it is about transportation. When a two lane roadway is damaged with only one way traffic available, the WSDOT does not say we are supplementing service by adding a lane. Please let’s adopt the proper mind set.“

I know our representatives, especially Dave Paul, are working hard to get two boat service restored to the Mukilteo-Clinton route. Dave appeared on the Langley City Council meeting last week and gave a full report on that activity. The above communication from WSDOT suggests there is a fundamental attitude problem with ferry system management and communications policy, and it needs to be brought to the attention of all stakeholders, including senior leadership at the WSDOT.

Peter Morton

Langley